Food and Water - Different, But Complimentary

A healthy body they say breeds a healthy mind. The necessity of food and water for human survival need not be overemphasized. These two things are indispensable for human growth, health and survival. The growth of children, challenges of old age, and the survival of patience all hinge on the availability and consumption of these items. Though different, the wonderful thing about these two items is that they complement each other to achieve a common purpose; building a healthy body. People who are not able to consume anything, probably due to illness, suffer because their health conditions inevitably become critical. When protesting individuals decide to go on hunger strike, their aim is always to attract serious attention in other to get their needs met. During war, efforts are made not only to supply arms, but most importantly, food and water. The analysis of their importance in human life is quite amazing.

Human beings enjoy good health when they eat foods wisely and moderately too. It is not everything eatable that passes for food. The foods that are most suitable are health foods. These types of foods are real or say, original. Over the millenniums, people have been enjoying fresh foods. Some others too have chosen to embrace modern processed foods. This is very dangerous because it is without doubt that commercially prepackaged foods and fast food usually contain excess sugar, salt and fat. These high levels of harmful contents are known to be major causes of heart diseases, stroke, cancer and other fatal illnesses. For those who are desirable to serve good foods, it is advisable to try cooking methods such as steaming, baking, and broiling. These are highly preferable methods compared to frying which, though, makes the food taste sweet, but very harmful the body system. When intended to prepare good foods, it is recommendable to use more herbs and spices to reduce the input of salt. Meats provide a better relish when cooked properly. Dry ones are recommendable for those that have lost their youthful vigour those declining in age.

And with stirred interest in human nutrition increasing day by day, people are becoming conscious and careful about what they eat. There is now growing interest and inclined dependence on fruits and vegetables. In preparing foods, a balanced meal favours a variety of vegetables, fruits and whole grains over meats and starches. People who consume a lot of fruits and vegetables have stronger immune systems compared to those who eat foods that contain much starch. While fruits are generally known to be rich in vitamins and minerals, it also contains fat, fiber, protein, sugar, glucose, fructose and carbohydrates. Vegetables are said to generally contain little protein or fat. Variety of vitamins, dietary minerals, fiber and carbohydrates are contained in vegetables. Phytochemicals are very essential since they contain antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, including anticarcinogic properties. For families raising children, it is preferable to give children thoroughly washed fresh fruits and vegetables for snacks instead of packets of candy and chips. This is necessary for the avoidance and prevention of morbid growth in children. Moreover, there should be reduction in the consumption of refined foods such as pasta, white bread, and white rice. Such foods have been stripped of their nutritional value. Such potentially dangerous fad diets should be avoided. It is, therefore, noteworthy that what children are fed with determines to an extent the rate of their mental development. In this case, parents can protect their own health and their children's health just by helping themselves acquire a taste for foods that are healthful. It will really do them a lot of good.

In the area of water, it is recommendable to drink plenty of fluids. For adults and children to enjoy sound health, in fact survive, there is need to drink plenty of water and other unsweetened liquids every day. Such liquids are vital in that they aid digestion, cleanse your body of poisons, make for healthier skin, as well as promote weight loss. But during hot weather, heavy physical work and exercise, water may not require any alternative since none can offer equal satisfaction. The intake of alcohol should be minimal and consumption of sweetened drinks reduced. This is because it is discovered that one bottle of soft drink a day can add up to seven kilograms to your weight in a year.

In most communities of some countries, drinkable water can be difficult to obtain. It can also be expensive. But due to the vital nature of water, human beings cannot do without it. If impure, it needs to be properly boiled and chemically treated before drinking either during meal or when thirsty. Evidence shows that dirty water kills more than wars or earthquakes do. The statistics stands at four hundred children a day. That is a very high one. Isn't it?

Moreover, water is preferably not taken before or during meal, but after it. The reason is because a large quantity of water is contained in most foodstuffs. Vegetables, fruits, even fruit juices are rich in water content. Despite that, it is necessary for an average human being to drink a minimum of four pints of fluid daily. It is an established fact that the human body can last a considerable length of time without food, but no one can possibly live more than three or four days without water. So, it should not be forgotten that water is an essential part of human diet.

Finally, the indispensable nature of food and water is such that man has to increase his effort in making sure these things continue to be in steady supply. For all practical purposes, man relies upon certain crop plants for his existence. Our modern world would grind to a standstill if it is unable to rely on the gradual improvement of food crops which lend themselves so well to modern mechanized agriculture. Rivers and other sources of clean water supply should be properly protected against pollution. More efforts should be made so that those in the rural parts of the world can get adequate food clean drinking water, which will surely reduce mortality rate. Above all, people should form the habit of drinking adequate water every day to keep themselves strong and far from diseases. It is by doing these that they shall consistently maintain a healthy body and mind.

Written by John Ndubueze

May 2011

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/6297452

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